Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi has initiated legal action against two individuals on social media, alleging they published a false statement attributing a death threat to him, a claim he says has harmed his reputation and risked public safety.
Gumi filed a criminal complaint at the Chief Magistrate Court in Kaduna State against George Udom and Bello Isiaka, whom he accused of posting defamatory content on their respective Facebook pages that purportedly linked him to a threat against the family of Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Retired Gen. Christopher Musa.
According to court documents, the defendants published a post on Tuesday morning between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. that carried the headline “Breaking News” and included Gumi’s photograph alongside text suggesting:
“…the family of the Minister of Defence … would be eliminated if military operations against bandits were not halted.”
The cleric told the court he had no role whatsoever in the creation or dissemination of the statement, and that its attribution to him was “false” and “damaging” to his reputation.
Gumi’s legal team, led by lawyer Suleiman Lere, argued that the publication not only defamed their client but also had the potential to incite public disorder in Kaduna State, especially in sensitive areas such as Southern Kaduna, and placed the cleric at risk by creating the impression he was involved in a threat against a public official’s family.
The cleric said the alleged action generated a flood of phone calls from members of the public believing he was responsible for the statement and that he was attempting to intimidate the defence minister in the execution of his official duties.
In his petition, Gumi described the post as contrary to his long-standing reputation as a religious leader “known for preaching peace and harmony within and outside Nigeria.”
The complaint filed by Gumi’s attorneys claims that the defendants’ actions constitute: Criminal defamation, attempt to cause public disturbance, and conspiracy to injure the peace and safety of the community.
The alleged offences, outlined under Sections 59, 57, 372, 116 and 117 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017, according to the complaint, involve intentionally spreading false statements that could disrupt public order or expose individuals to harm.
Gumi’s legal team has urged the court to issue a summons to the named defendants to appear and respond to the allegations. The cleric’s counsel emphasized that the posting of fake news and assigning false statements to public figures should not go unchallenged, especially when it undermines social harmony and safety.
The matter has been set for further proceedings at the Kaduna Chief Magistrate Court as the judicial process unfolds.
